Medicated Under Vest

Not only a medical miracle but a fashion statement as well.

"has proven itself to be the very Perfection of Prevention from Pneumonia…. keeping the skin in a most delicious and healthy glow and the internal organs in that healthy and vigorous condition which is the Only Safeguard Against Disease."

Harper's Magazine - May 1886

Posted By: Alex - Fri May 01, 2020 - Comments (6)
Category: Fashion, Underwear, Health, Disease, Nineteenth Century

Informative Swimwear

In 2005, Robert Dickey and Ruth Stephens filed a patent application for "swimwear as information device." Their idea was to make a line of swimwear that displayed maritime signal flags. This would allow people to communicate messages to those around them via their swimwear. They explained:


The possible messages one could send seemed limitless, but they were never granted a patent. Perhaps the idea of messages on clothing was deemed too obvious.

There's also the limitation that only people conversant with maritime signal flags could decode the messages, which would make the various 'stay away' messages somewhat pointless.

Posted By: Alex - Sun Apr 26, 2020 - Comments (3)
Category: Boats, Fashion, Inventions, Patents, Languages, Double Entendres and Nudge-Nudge, Wink-Wink

Six Minutes of Disco Dancing

So much polyester. So many fly ladies. So many dudes in jumpsuits. So many funky moves.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Apr 19, 2020 - Comments (3)
Category: Fashion, Music, 1970s, Dance

Chi Pants

Chi pants promised to allow your Chi energy to flow better. They were created by Laurence Ostrow of Santa Cruz, CA in the 1980s. Their distinguishing feature was a "gusset crotch," which was a patch of material under the crotch instead of the usual cross-seam construction.

But for $5 extra, you could also make them "crystal powered." The Chi Pants catalog explained, "We sew a very small, perfect crystal in the back seam of your pant, right above the base of the spine. You won’t feel the crystal; you’ll just feel the energy."

Ostrow said, "We’ve had a very good response from people who have (crystals) in their pants. They feel a certain bubbling, tingling sensation up the spine. It’s not just a big lump in your pants."

Apparently the Chi Pants sold well and had a loyal fan base. But ultimately the company went under, even though Ostrow made several attempts to revive it.

Posted By: Alex - Thu Apr 09, 2020 - Comments (2)
Category: Fashion, 1980s

The collar saw of Carl Kusch

Carl Kusch of Germany invented a way that a person would never be without a saw when they needed one, because the saw could be worn around their neck at all times. From his 1909 patent:




Kusch evidently had high hopes for his invention, because he obtained patents for it in the United States, Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Although in his patent he never explained who he thought was going to buy the thing. The military, I'm guessing, because it seems designed to be part of a German soldier's uniform. Although as far as I know, no army ever outfitted its soldiers with this thing.

Posted By: Alex - Sun Mar 22, 2020 - Comments (7)
Category: Fashion, Inventions, Patents, Military, 1900s

Follies of the Madmen #469

Why the dog?



Source.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Mar 12, 2020 - Comments (6)
Category: Business, Advertising, Fashion, Dogs, 1960s

Balenciaga Time Bracelet

It looks like a watch, except that it doesn’t tell time. Instead, it’s a “Time Bracelet.” Yours for only $995.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Mar 09, 2020 - Comments (5)
Category: Fashion

Follies of the Madmen #468

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Mar 02, 2020 - Comments (1)
Category: Business, Advertising, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Fashion, 1950s

Inflatable Pants, 2020

Explanation--such as it is--here.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 25, 2020 - Comments (9)
Category: Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Fashion, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art

Follies of the Madmen #467

This is asking an awful lot from a mere bathrobe, isn't it?



Source.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Feb 24, 2020 - Comments (1)
Category: Business, Advertising, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Fashion, 1950s